JEFFERSON CITY — Majority Floor Leader Ron Richard, R-Joplin, said he is disappointed in the governor’s veto of a measure that would have created a competitive business climate with a faster rate of job growth in the state.
The Senate made history in May by advancing legislation that would make Missouri a Right-to-Work state. House Bills 116 & 569 would have barred employers from requiring employees to engage in or cease engaging in certain labor practices. The governor vetoed the measure today (6-4).
“I am saddened the governor vetoed legislation that is long overdue in our state. If Missouri were to join the 25 other Right-to-Work states, we would regain a competitive edge not only among our neighboring states, but on the national level as well,” said Richard. “Right-to-Work encourages job growth and promotes individual freedoms by giving employees the power to determine their own futures. It does nothing to harm unions. Between 2013 and 2014, Indiana — a Right-to-Work state — added 50,000 union members and increased the state’s union membership by 1.4 percent. In that same time period, Missouri lost 5,000 union members, or .2 percent of union membership. Also during that time, Indiana gained nearly 94,000 jobs while Missouri only gained about 26,000.”
“Post-recession growth has become stagnant, and our population is dwindling as more and more Missourians move to surrounding states to seize better opportunities. Missouri’s real manufacturing GDP has declined 4 percent over the last 10 years, while Right-to-Work states in the Midwest saw a 25.5 percent increase. Employee pay has also risen in those states while the Show-Me State lags behind,” Richard continued.
“Ever since I became the mayor of Joplin, and throughout my political career, my main goal has been job creation. This legislation could have helped us bring more businesses to the Show-Me State, increase our job numbers, and foster a better environment for workers,” Richard said.
The General Assembly will convene for the annual veto session on Sept. 16, 2015. At that time, the Legislature can attempt to override the governor’s vetoes. To learn more about these bills and other bills or to track their progress, visit www.senate.mo.gov. |
